They called and said I needed to get to the hospital ASAP, and that sort of scared me,” says Milly, who quickly returned to be admitted. After another CAT scan, Milly learned she had a ruptured appendix that had abscessed.

The twinge of pain that turned into more

Milly Garrett, a self-described ball of energy, began feeling under the weather last summer and couldn’t put her finger on why.

“I was doing all kinds of things and never had horrible pain or anything,” says Milly. “It was just a little twinge, you know, in my stomach, but not enough to keep me still, but not running around as I usually do.”

Milly made an appointment with Dr. Bakul Patel, a local gastroenterologist, to determine the source of her pain. He sent her for a CAT scan at Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital. After the CAT scan, Milly went home to wait the results.

“They called and said I needed to get to the hospital ASAP, and that sort of scared me,” says Milly, who quickly returned to be admitted. After another CAT scan, Milly learned she had a ruptured appendix that had abscessed.

Dr. Robert Dewitt used CAT scan guidance to place a percutaneous drain that treated the abscess. Dr. Michelle Helms from Sentara Halifax General Surgery was on standby in case a full surgery was needed. She acted as Milly’s guiding physician throughout the procedure.

“She came to the room and explained everything to me,” says Milly, who spent seven days in the hospital. “She would come to see me every day. She wanted me to get well really bad.”

When she left the hospital, Milly still had a PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) to administer her daily antibiotics for an additional 10 days. For the weeks following her surgery, Milly had several follow-up appointments with Dr. Helms.

“I’ve told so many people to see my doctor if they ever need surgery. I have no complaints whatsoever. I got along fine in the hospital, and I got along fine with the follow up,” Milly says with a smile. “I’m feeling good now.”